Paint mixing and blending apparatus



June 26, 1962 A. A. DEDOES 3,041,052

PAINT MIXING AND BLENDING APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1959 ?l "INVENTOR ARNOLD A. DED 05s KAAZAW ATTORNEY ttes Uite

This invention relates to improvements in paint mixing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus which shall be more efficient in operation to handle the wide variety of materials usually encountered in stirring, mixing, and blending the materials for commercial use.

Paint mixing apparatus embodying the present invention is shown generally in my copending applications Serial No. 801,811 filed March 25, 1959, and Serial No. 801,812 filed March 25, 1959, wherein the stirrer or agitating mechanism is adapted for use with the ordinary commercial paint can container or receptacle.

Those devices heretofore employed have many serious limitations in that they are too expensive to manufacture; that they are not readily adaptable to handle the wide variety of paint or enamel materials that are usually required in everyday mixing, stirring or blending to produce the specific desired result.

Furthermore, some materials require a diiferent form of agitation than others. It has been found that some of these materials require special agitation because they settle more rapidly and form a heavy or viscous mass that is frequently swirled about the container without being properly and thoroughly mixed. Then again, some materials are very thin and watery and when they are poured or dispensed from the container great care must be exercised to obtain the proper amount for testing as in the case of tints for certain mixtures.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a mixing apparatus which shall be adapted to prevent mass swilling in the container by providing a novel form of baffle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of pouring device associated with the can cover which shall facilitate accurate controlling of the dispensing of all types and kinds of fluids from the container can.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of agitator or stirrer which shall not only effectively stir the materials, but also facilitate its operation relative to the can opening to which it is applied during operation of the machine with which it may be associated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of spout and operating valve closure mechanism therefor which shall also control a container vent associated therewith so as to more accurately control the dispensing of paint fluid for any purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of cover, stirrer, and dispenser in an assembled unit for use in a commercial paint can.

More specifically, a further object of the invention is to provide a novel combination of battle and stirrer blades for more efliciently mixing a wider variety of fluids having different characteristics.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a more sturdy and simplified stirrer structure made from sheet metal stamped parts and more readily assembled at a minimum cost of time and labor.

These and other objects will be more manifest from the following specification and drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paint can and associated stirrer constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view in elevation of the can shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional View on line 33 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the apparatus contemplates a cover unit for mixing, stirring, or agitating fluids such as paints, lacquers, enamels or the like. In such apparatus it is desired to thoroughly mix the materials so as to keep the ingredients in intimate suspension as long as possible. It is particularly necessary in commercial mixing apparatus that it shall be able to handle all the usual types of mixable fluids with equal facility and effectiveness to maintain the highest quality of products at all times.

The numeral 10 indicates the usual type of commercial paint container or can with its usual inturned cover seal and receiving flange 11. The ordinary commercial cover is removed and replaced by a mixing machine cover indicated by the numeral 12 and embodying the novel features of the present invention. This cover 12 is preferably made of a sturdy metal die-casting having a peripheral flange 13 which is secured in place by a pair of manually operated clamp members 14-14. The cover 12 includes an angularly-shaped pouring spout 15 formed integral therewith, and located substantially within the confines of the side edge container to which the cover may be attached. This cover also includes a central stirrer shaft bearing block 16 and a substantially V-shaped depression 17 or well, all of which are formed during a single die casting operation of the cover as more fully described in my copending application Serial No. 801,811 filed March 25, 1959.

The spout 15 includes a horizontally disposed and substantially V-shaped pouring lip 18. The spout opening is closed by a manually operated sheet metal plate valve member 19 having a substantially square end 2t]. This arrangement facilitates the accurate dispensing or pouring of all types of liquids and paints or lacquers for a wide variety of uses and all kinds of operation encountered in the paint blending and mixing industry. For example, if the fluid handled is thick or thin, the feature of uncovering the spout opening by increments directly un der the observation of the operator and is always under control of the operator, either minutely or full capacity, contemplates the invention.

The plate valve 19 is slidably mounted horizontally in sealing relation with the spout surface opening edges and is supported and guided on the top surface of the bearing block 16. The arrangement is such that the slidable plate 19 is retained on top of the bearing 16 by a tap screw 21 and yieldably held in a forward closed position on the spout opening sides by a loop coil spring 22 secured beneath the plate 19 and engaging a cover eye member 23. Hook members 2424- struck downwardly from the side portions of the sheet metal plate member 19 are adapted to receive the ends of the coil spring 22. To further assist the spring 22 in maintaining the valve 19 in a tightly closed sealing position, a leaf spring 24 having a curved end portion 25 engages the top of the plate 19 and is also retained in position by the tap screw 2%). An elongated slot 26 is for-med in the plate 19 providing a more durable, efiicient and compact operating mechanism as hereinafter more fully described. The rear end of plate 19 terminates in a struck down flange member 27 for receiving the end of a manual operating lever 28 having a struck up end portion 29. Also formed at the end of the lever 28 is a member 39 struck downwardly from the sheet metal body 28 and is of sufficient length to engage the bottom portion of the cover recess 17 and thus form a retaining pivot support for the spout valve operating lever 28.

Also provided in the bearing 16 is a container vent channel 31 for admitting air to the container when fluid is dispensed. This vent is normally closed by the rear end portion of plate 19 and opened by the slot 26 upon a slight rearward movement of the spout valve plate 19 and air is admitted to the container and thus facilitates the accurate observation and control of the discharge of fluid from the spout regardless of its consistency of fluidity.

Another important feature of the present novel paint mixing apparatus is the arrangement of the agitator or stirring members operating within the container 16 when the cover 12 is clamped in position. A central vertical operating shaft 32 is mounted for rotation in the cover bearing 16. The upper end of this shaft is rigidly and detachably secured to a drive coupling yoke 33' by a set screw 34 and the yoke 33 connects with a rotatable power source indicated by a swingable complementary coupling member 35'. That portion of the shaft 32 extending within the container has rigidly connected to its lower portion a sheet metal agitator member 33 in any suitable manner as by spot welding, for example. The shaft divides the agitator surface into two oppositely directed blades or stirrer parts, one part 34 being a plane surface and the other part 35 being perforated and of larger surface area. The top and bottom edge portions 36 and 37 of the member 34 are both inclined to the same side of the member in order that the bottom portion 37 shall direct fluid upwardly from the bottom of the container as the stirrer rotates in a clockwise direction while the top portion 36 tends to direct the fluid downward and thus produce more efiicient agitation or turbulence. It will also be noted that a vertical side edge 38 of the member 34 is spaced a short distance inwardly of the container side. This space facilitates the movement of the imperforate member 34 when operating in a sticky or heavy mass of fluid and especially when starting the stirring operation. Also by making the overall diameter of the stirrer 33 less than the diameter of the container, the unit cover and stirrer apparatus may be readily inserted in and removed from the flanged edges of a paint container with which it may be operated.

The stirrer member 35 being of larger surface area than the counter part 34, it readily includes perforations made by transverse deflector tabs 3939 and ML-40 struck down from one side of the sheet metal body portion of member 35. The tabs 39-39 are directed downwardly while the tabs 4tl4tl are struck upwardly thus providing a desired counter flow of fluid during agitation. The section 35 is also provided with inclined top and bottom edge portions 41 and 42 respectively. It will be noted that the inclined top and bottom edges of the axial sections 34 and 35 slope in the opposite directions. The section 35 being of larger surface area than the section 34, its vertical edge 43 moves in close proximity to the vertical wall of the paint can it) and thus provides an efficient scraping effect to remove any material that may tend to cling to the container side walls.

It frequently happens that when stirring certain heavy or sticky fluids, the ordinary stirrer as shown by the axial parts 34-35 merely swirls the mass .and does not effectively mix or break up the particles so as to produce a fluid of desired homogeneous and proper consistency. Experimental tests have indicated that by providing a vertically disposed supplementary vane or baflle member 44 swingably mounted for limited movement on the shaft 32. effectively breaks up the mass and eliminates any tendency of the mass to be rotated in the container without the desired mixing effect being accomplished by the driven plate members 34 and 35. The baffle vane 44 is loosely mounted on the shaft 32 by a suitable bearing portion 45 struck from the sheet metal forming the baffle and located at one side edge 46. The other side edge 47 moves in close proximity of the side wall 10 of the container and thus breaks up any mass movement of material inside the container. The bafile 44 is swingable between two stop members formed on the inside of the cover by the inclusion of one of the clamp members 14 and the depression 17. Thus it will be noted that the desired agitation results are obtained without any alteration of the container in which the agitator is designed to operate. The top edge of the baflle 44 is maintained against the cover bearing 16 by means of a space member in the form of a small spring 48 located on the shaft 32 and interposed between the fixed lower agitator member 33 and the top blade 44 as indicated by the numerals 49, 5t), and 51. The baflle plate 44 moving in close proximity of the stirrer blades 3435 not only prevents mass swirling of the material, but effectively causes the fluid particles to move from the bottom of the container to the top portion thereof and thereby accomplishes a more efficient material mixing result not heretofore obtainable in the present day paint mixing apparatus now on the market.

From the foregoing it will be noted and emphasized that the few moving parts are made from sheet metal stampings which reduce manufacturing costs to a minimum. The assembly time is reduced to a minimum by the fact that stirrer member 33 is spot welded to the operating shaft 32 and the baflle 44 is slipped on the shaft to operate adjacent the stirrer 33. The shaft is then assembled to the cover bearing 16 and retained therein by the yoke coupling member 33 and set screw 34. All of this assemblage takes place at a minimum of labor costs and packaging space.

Having thus defined a paint mixing cover unit constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, it is obvious that various changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for stirring paint in a container comprising a container cover, a bearing member mounted centrally of said cover, a vertical stirrer shaft mounted for rotation in said bearing, said shaft having a coupling member mounted at its upper end for connection to a continuously rotatable power device, a stirrer plate blade member rigidly mounted at the lower end of said rotatable shaft, a vertically disposed plate baffle member pivotally mounted on said shaft and swingable at one side of said shaft and located above said stirrer member, said stirrer and baffle plate areas extending substantially the depth of the container, and means on the cover for limiting the swinging movement of said baflle member relative to the rotatable stirrer.

2. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 in which the bottom peripheral edge of the swingably mounted bafiie moves in a fixed arc adjacent the top edges of said rotatable blades and the vertical side edges of said baffle move in an are at a fixed distance adjacent to said container side walls and said cover.

3. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 including yieldable means on said shaft for holding the swingable baflle plate against said cover shaft bearing, and at a fixed distance above the rotary stirrer plate.

4. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 including means on the inside of the cover for limiting the swinging movement of said baffle member relative to said stirrer blades rigidly mounted on said shaft, whereby the baflie is maintained in a relatively fixed position above the rotatable stirrer blade.

5. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 in which one axial side of the rotatable stirrer plate blade is perforated and the other axial side portion is an imperforate surface having a lateral deflector edge portion, and both portions having top edges for directing fluid to the bottom edge of said baffle.

6. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 in which one axial side of the rotatable stirrer plate blade is perforated and the other axial side portion is an imperforate surface and inclined deflector edges formed at the top and bottom portions of each vertical side section of the stirrer, whereby fluid is directed against the relatively fixed baflle member.

7. Apparatus for stirring paint in a container comprising a container cover, a bearing member mounted centrally of said cover, a vertical stirrer shaft mounted for rotation in said bearing, said shaft having a coupling member mounted at its upper end for connection to a continuously rotatable power device, a stirrer plate blade member rigidly mounted at the lower end of said rotatable shaft, the vertical shaft dividing the stirrer blade into unequal blade portions, one surface of the stirrer moving in close proximity to the paint container side Wall While the edge portion of the other surface moves at a substantial distance from said container side wall, and a relatively fixed bafile member pivotally carried by the stirrer shaft and having a limited fixed arcuate movement relative to the rotatable stirrer blade portions, and means on the cover for limiting the movement of said baffie, whereby both rotatable blade portions direct fluid to the baffle member.

8. Apparatus of the character described in claim 7 including a bafile member pivotally carried by the stirrer shaft and having limited arcuate movement relative to the stirrer blade portions, and means located on the vertical shaft and interposed between the plate baffle mem ber and the stirrer blades for maintaining a fixed distance between the adjacent edges of the relatively movable members.

9. An agitator adapted to be removably inserted in a paint can having a flanged top opening extending inwardly thereof, comprising a substantially flat rectangular stirrer member adapted for rotation about a vertical axis lying in the plane of said member, a vertical shaft located in said axis and rigidly fixed to said stirrer member at unequal distances between its diametrical side edges so as to divide the stirrer body into unequal surface areas about said axis, whereby said agitator may be readily passed through the can opening, a swingable baffle member having one side portion pivotally mounted on said shaft and located at one side thereof having the free edge to move in close fixed proximity to said container side walls and the top edge of said stirrer member, and means on the cover for limiting the swinging movement of said bafile member.

10. A receptacle cover for use in a fluid mixing machine comprising a die-cast closure member for the receptacle including a spout formed therein and having a horizontal V-shaped spout opening, an agitator shaft bearing member formed centrally of the cover member, a vent opening formed in said bearing to communicate with the inside of said receptacle, a slidable closure plate for the spout opening and having a substantially straight end edge, said straight edge opening and closing the spout at the V end, and a manually operated lever pivotally mounted on the cover adjacent to said bearing and loosely connected to said closure plate adjacent the bearing for actuating the spout closure plate to simultaneously open said spout and said vent opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 969,018 Willrnann Aug. 30, 1910 1,651,816 Goldman Dec. 6, 1927 2,229,303 Peterson Ian. 21, 1941 2,257,238 Hexter Sept. 30, 1941 2,274,849 Peterson Mar. 3, 1942 2,312,584 Peterson Mar. 2, 1943 2,318,141 Collins May 4, 1943 2,392,731 Fox Ian. 8, 1946 2,469,649 Hunter et al. May 10, 1949 2,491,656 Goldman Dec. 20, '1949 2,585,334 McCauley Feb. 12, 1952 2,802,649 Stockton Aug. 13, 1957 2,867,359 Adams Jan. 6, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 517,340 Great Britain Ian. 26, 1940 

